Pakistan produced a commanding all-round performance to beat England by 87 runs in the ODI tri-series at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on October 20, 2026. Arafat Minhas starred with both bat and ball, scoring a crucial half-century before claiming six wickets to dismantle England's chase.
After recovering from an early batting collapse, Pakistan posted 302/9 in their 50 overs. England made a promising start in pursuit of 303 but lost their way against Pakistan's bowling attack, eventually being bowled out for 215 in 38.4 overs.
Hasan Nawaz, Arafat Minhas Lead Pakistan's Recovery
Pakistan's innings got off to a shaky start as England reduced the hosts to 81/4. Fakhar Zaman fell for a first-ball duck, while Saim Ayub managed just eight runs. Babar Azam scored 34 before Will Jacks dismissed him, and Salman Ali Agha departed for 16.
With Pakistan under pressure, Saad Baig contributed 35 off 54 balls to provide some stability. However, the hosts needed a substantial partnership to build a competitive total.
Hasan Nawaz stepped up with an aggressive 79 off 74 deliveries, striking five fours and four sixes. Minhas complemented him with 59 off 58 balls, finding the boundary nine times.
The pair added 78 runs for the sixth wicket, rescuing Pakistan from a difficult position and laying the foundation for a strong finish. Faheem Ashraf then provided late impetus with 39 off 26 balls as Pakistan reached 302/9.
Sonny Baker picked up three wickets for England, while Gus Atkinson claimed two.
England's Strong Start Fails to Deliver
England began their chase positively, with Tom Banton and Ben Duckett putting together an opening partnership of 91 runs. Duckett scored 45 off 46 balls, while Banton made 57 from 53 deliveries, giving the visitors a genuine chance of chasing down the target.
Haris Rauf broke the partnership by dismissing Duckett, and Minhas soon removed Banton to shift the momentum in Pakistan's favour.
The pressure intensified when Minhas bowled England captain Harry Brook for five. Naseem Shah then accounted for Joe Root, who had scored 33, leaving England increasingly dependent on their middle order.
Pakistan capitalised on the breakthroughs, preventing England from building another meaningful partnership. The visitors' promising start quickly gave way to a middle-order collapse.
Arafat Minhas Takes Six to Seal Pakistan's Victory
Minhas delivered a decisive spell of left-arm spin, finishing with 6/40 in 8.4 overs. His wickets repeatedly halted England's recovery attempts and ensured Pakistan remained firmly in control.
Sam Curran scored 27, while Jordan Cox made 18 and Will Jacks contributed 19. However, England could not find the partnerships required to keep the chase alive.
Minhas continued to strike through the lower order, dismissing Jacks, Jamie Overton and Adil Rashid among his victims. A direct-hit run-out of Gus Atkinson completed England's innings at 215 in 38.4 overs.
Pakistan sealed an 87-run victory, with Minhas's contribution of 59 runs and six wickets making him the standout performer of the match.
Pakistan vs England: Match Summary
Match details | Result |
|---|---|
Match | Pakistan vs England, ODI Tri-Series |
Venue | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium |
Date | October 20, 2026 |
Pakistan | 302/9 in 50 overs |
England | 215 all out in 38.4 overs |
Result | Pakistan won by 87 runs |
Player of the Match | Arafat Minhas |
Top scorer — Pakistan | Hasan Nawaz — 79 |
Top scorer — England | Tom Banton — 57 |
Best bowling | Arafat Minhas — 6/40 |
What Next for Pakistan and England?
Pakistan will look to carry this momentum into their next tri-series fixture after securing consecutive victories following their earlier win over Sri Lanka. The recovery led by Hasan Nawaz and Minhas demonstrated the team's ability to rebuild under pressure, while the bowling performance underlined the impact of its spin options.
England, meanwhile, will need to address their middle-order struggles after losing seven wickets for just 50 runs following their strong opening stand. Their next challenge will be to improve their response against spin and turn promising starts into match-winning partnerships.
With the tri-series continuing, both teams will be keen to strengthen their positions in the competition. Pakistan will take confidence from Minhas's outstanding all-round display, while England will be looking for a more composed performance in their next outing.
